I was alerted by the China Hearsay to a story titled "Disabled groups outraged by Beijing snub," at the Times. It reported the indignation expressed by some to an official guide for volunteers at the Beijing Olympic Games in August and the Paralympics in September. “I’m stunned,” said Simone Aspis, a parliamentary campaigner at the UK Disabled People’s Council. “It’s not just … [Read more...] about Beijing's sensitivity to people with disabilities received sensitively
olympics
"Shift from feudalism no easy leap"
Insightful editorial from the Sydney Morning Herald, discussing the issue of Tibet, China, and the Olympics. The recent demonstrations in support of Tibetan independence have been a carefully co-ordinated boutique public relations operation rather than an outbreak of mass demonstrations. Video records of demonstrations in Tibet show an ugly, racist side to the unrest as ethnic … [Read more...] about "Shift from feudalism no easy leap"
Massive crowds swamp torch in Shenzhen
The torch has successfully completed the run in Shenzhen, although there are stories of difficulties navigating the crowds. The torch might have even been extinguished and transported via bus along part of the route... something similar to what happened in Paris, but for precisely the opposite reason. Reportedly 8 million people were on the streets for the torch. Here are … [Read more...] about Massive crowds swamp torch in Shenzhen
Politics and the Beijing Olympics
The Christian Science Monitor has an article on the historical links between the Olympics and politics. It's mostly a repetition of what other articles have said, but there are a few interesting quotes. Similarities stop there, however, says Susan Brownell, a professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, currently in Beijing studying Chinese preparations … [Read more...] about Politics and the Beijing Olympics
Olympic torch on top of the world
In a moment that made many Chinese proud, 21 Tibetan-Chinese, 8 Han-Chinese, and 1 Tujia-Chinese helped bring the 2008 Olympic Torch to top of the worlds' highest peak. The name of the peak in Tibetan is ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ (jo-mo glang-ma ri), which is often translated as "Great Mother" (literal translation as given in Chinese: "mother of Earth"). The first written recording of … [Read more...] about Olympic torch on top of the world